Stories tracking Jacksonville’s downtown growth, redevelopment projects, and efforts to revitalize the city’s urban core.
Featured image for “Indiana developer says it’s buying Laura Street Trio”
The Laura Street Trio has been deteriorating for decades. | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today
December 5, 2025

Indiana developer says it’s buying Laura Street Trio

Becovic Management Group says it is buying the restored Barnett National Bank Building in addition to the Laura Street Trio.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record and Joe Lister - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Main Street Bridge could become a national landmark”
The Main Street Bridge is featured on a vintage postcard | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today
December 1, 2025

Main Street Bridge could become a national landmark

City lawmakers want to add the iconic Main Street Bridge to the National Register of Historic Places.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Riverfront Plaza second ‘destination’ Downtown park to open this month”
Riverfront Plaza is set to reopen after an 18-month renovation on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 25, 2025

Riverfront Plaza second ‘destination’ Downtown park to open this month

City officials are debuting Riverfront Plaza and RiversEdge public parks on the Nothbank and Southbank, respectively.…

By Mike Mendenhall and Michelle Corum

Featured image for “Lights and action usher in Jacksonville’s inaugural River Fest”
Brett Price helps erect the holiday tree inside Riverfront Plaza on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. Price previously built Jacksonville's holiday tree in James Weldon Johnson Park for the previous five years. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 25, 2025

Lights and action usher in Jacksonville’s inaugural River Fest

Fireworks, a lighted boat parade and a sneak peek at Jacksonville new downtown park are all at Saturday’s River Fest.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Developer to seek $48M in incentives for Publix-anchored project Downtown”
Developer Gateway Jax will ask the city for $48 million in incentives for a Publix-anchored project planned at 119 W. Beaver St., Downtown. | Jacksonville Daily Record
November 25, 2025

Developer to seek $48M in incentives for Publix-anchored project Downtown

Officials discussed Gateway Jax’s coming request Monday during a City Council committee on Downtown.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Four Seasons tax incentive could rise by $6M”
Construction continues on the Four Seasons hotel in Downtown Jacksonville. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today
November 20, 2025

Four Seasons tax incentive could rise by $6M

See a rundown of all the incentives going to the Four Seasons hotel and related development.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “More outdoor dining on the way in Downtown Jacksonville”
Renderings of Pearl Square, the Gateway Jax development in the NorthCore area of Downtown Jacksonville, show sidewalk seating. | Jacksonville Daily Record
November 14, 2025

More outdoor dining on the way in Downtown Jacksonville

The Jacksonville City Council voted to allow restaurant and bar seating on Downtown sidewalks.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “City sets sail on new Downtown fireboat station”
An illustration of a new marine fire station has been erected at the riverfront site where the station will be built. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
November 14, 2025

City sets sail on new Downtown fireboat station

Ground was broken Friday for a new fireboat station to serve Jacksonville’s growing Downtown.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Potential Hard Rock Hotel could seek public incentives”
A potential Hard Rock Hotel is proposed on 2.02 acres at 500 E. Bay St., the site of the demolished Berkman II condominium along the St. Johns River. | Jacksonville Daily Record
November 7, 2025

Potential Hard Rock Hotel could seek public incentives

Developers outlined at least $40 million in incentives for a possible Hard Rock on the Northbank.…

By Joe Lister - Jacksonville Daily Record and Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “The next step on the riverfront: Shipyards West Park”
The latest design of the Shipyards West Park is 90% complete. It shows a new two-story event pavilion, a flex lawn, a Playscape, Riverwalk, sports/pickleball courts and trees, all planned to be bult by 2028. | City of Jacksonville
November 7, 2025

The next step on the riverfront: Shipyards West Park

Groundbreaking is planned next year on Shipyards West, one of many areas under development on the Northbank.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Duval DOGE questions autonomous vehicle program”
One of the Jacksonville Transit Authority's autonomous vans makes a test run recently on Gator Bowl Boulevard. A JTA staffer sits inside to take over if necessary. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
November 5, 2025

Duval DOGE questions autonomous vehicle program

Some members of the Jacksonville City Council want to rethink funding for the autonomous vehicle program.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Jacksonville may expand sidewalk dining Downtown”
Renderings of Pearl Square, the Gateway Jax development in the NorthCore area of Downtown Jacksonville, show sidewalk seating. | Jacksonville Daily Record
November 5, 2025

Jacksonville may expand sidewalk dining Downtown

City Council is considering legislation that would allow sidewalk dining throughout Downtown instead of in select areas.…

By Joe Lister - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Duval Schools HQ to move to Baymeadows after School Board reverses course”
The Duval School Board voted to purchase this office building, currently occupied by Southeastern Grocers, for the district's headquarters. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
November 5, 2025

Duval Schools HQ to move to Baymeadows after School Board reverses course

Duval Schools HQ on the Southbank will be sold in the move to a building on the Southside, following a…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “Pratt Funeral Home will be reborn as ‘The Raven’”
The former Lawton Pratt funeral home is being converted into lodging. | Michelle Corum, Jacksonville Today
November 4, 2025

Pratt Funeral Home will be reborn as ‘The Raven’

The Raven, a lodging establishment, will feature 13 rooms with kitchenettes and laundry facilities plus a pool.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “It’s Florida-Georgia week. The commotion has already begun.”
The Florida and Georgia fans are split at EverBank Stadium during a recent game. | City of Jacksonville
October 28, 2025

It’s Florida-Georgia week. The commotion has already begun.

Expect the usual traffic and crowds as the Florida-Georgia game approaches on Saturday.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Sale of historic Armory building moves toward City Council vote”
This historic Armory building, completed in 1916, sits south of Hogans Creek and north of State Street near Downtown Jacksonville. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today
October 27, 2025

Sale of historic Armory building moves toward City Council vote

Jacksonville officials could sell the 109-year-old Armory building to a Fort Lauderdale developer for $2.89 million.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “A chill in the air at EverBank Stadium … literally”
One of JEA's chilled water compressors at its Downtown plant. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today
October 17, 2025

A chill in the air at EverBank Stadium … literally

JEA says chilled water is a growing method of cooling buildings, including the stadium and the Four Seasons.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Why the city thinks incentives for Downtown Starbucks make sense”
A licensed Starbucks franchise is planned on the ground floor of Bank of America Tower at 50 N. Laura St. | Jacksonville Daily Record
October 9, 2025

Why the city thinks incentives for Downtown Starbucks make sense

Jacksonville officials say a Starbucks in the Bank of America Tower would be a sign of health for Downtown.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Driverless Downtown shuttles are drawing few riders”
JTA's new NAVI, an autonomous downtown shuttle service, moves down East Bay Street. The service has low ridership three months after it began. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
October 7, 2025

Driverless Downtown shuttles are drawing few riders

Just over 100 people a day have used the NAVI shuttles, but the mayor and JTA predict the number will…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Cannabis store planned in Downtown Jacksonville”
GŪD Essence, a cannabis products retailer from Miami, is planned at the former Burger King at 210 E. State St. in Downtown Jacksonville. | Joe Lister, Jacksonville Daily Record
October 6, 2025

Cannabis store planned in Downtown Jacksonville

GŪD Essence, a cannabis retailer, would occupy the closed Burger King at 210 E. State St.…

By Karen Brune Mathis - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Starbucks seeks incentives for Downtown coffee shop”
A licensed Starbucks franchise is planned on the ground floor of Bank of America Tower at 50 N. Laura St. | Jacksonville Daily Record
October 3, 2025

Starbucks seeks incentives for Downtown coffee shop

The Starbucks franchise would open on the ground floor of Bank of America Tower.…

By Joe Lister - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “JEA negotiating with Live Oak to sell Downtown tower”
The 19-story former JEA headquarters tower at 21 W. Church St. could soon be sold to a developer led by Live Oak Contracting. | Courtesy of JEA
September 12, 2025

JEA negotiating with Live Oak to sell Downtown tower

Live Oak Contracting wants to convert the former JEA campus into apartments and retail.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Will Bread & Board ever return Downtown?”
The former Bread & Board restaurant at 100 W. Bay St. in Downtown Jacksonville. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today
August 29, 2025

#AskJAXTDY | Will Bread & Board ever return Downtown?

VyStar Credit Union is working to find another restaurant for the space left empty by Bread & Board.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Who’s paying for The Pearl sculpture at RiversEdge?”
The city has issued a permit for a sculpture called The Pearl at the RiversEdge development on the Downtown Southbank. The Pearl is the centerpiece of the development's Central Park. | Jacksonville Daily Record
August 11, 2025

#AskJAXTDY | Who’s paying for The Pearl sculpture at RiversEdge?

The city is kicking in $1 million for the sculpture. The developer will pay the rest.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Downtown Development

Downtown Development